Methods and Systems for Generating Application Build Recommendations

1. A computer-implemented method of managing an online application database, the online application database storing applications and having at least one user account and at least one developer account, the method comprising: identifying at least one application search query from one of the user accounts as an unfulfilled query if the at least one application search query resulted in fewer than a predetermined number of relevant results; storing, in memory, a query string and metadata regarding the unfulfilled query; determining that a count of stored unfulfilled queries exceeds a threshold number and, in response, identifying at least one application feature based on query strings from the stored unfulfilled queries; generating an application build recommendation specifying the at least one application feature; and providing the application build recommendation to the at least one developer account.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the application search query includes determining, for each application search query that resulted in a non-null list of relevant results, that a user account associated with that application search query did not access any applications include in the non-null list of relevant results.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the metadata for each unfulfilled query includes, at least, an associated merchant identifier.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying at least one application feature includes determining that more than a minimum percentage of the query strings contain a keyword, and wherein the at least one application feature includes the keyword.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein identifying the at least one application feature includes determining that the keyword corresponds to a type of application feature among a plurality of types of application features.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of types of application features include one or more of geographic location, product class, application sub-category, merchant class, or application function.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein storing the query string and metadata includes determining an application category associated with the query string and metadata and storing the query string and metadata in associated with the application category, and wherein determining that a count of stored unfulfilled queries exceeds a threshold number includes determining that a count of stored unfulfilled queries in association with the application category exceeds the threshold number.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the application feature includes one or more of application function, geographic location, product class, application sub-category, or merchant class.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein providing the application build recommendation includes identifying a plurality of developer accounts and sending a notification to each of the plurality of developer accounts regarding the application build recommendation.

10. A system having at least one user account and at least one developer account, the system comprising: an online application database, the online application database storing applications; a processor; and a memory storing gap assessment software containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, are to cause the processor to: identify at least one application search query from one of the user accounts as an unfulfilled query if the at least one application search query resulted in fewer than a predetermined number of relevant results; store, in memory, a query string and metadata regarding the unfulfilled query; determine that a count of stored unfulfilled queries exceeds a threshold number and, in response, identify at least one application feature based on query strings from the stored unfulfilled queries; generate an application build recommendation specifying the at least one application feature; and provide the application build recommendation to the at least one developer account.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed are to cause the processor to identify the application search query by determining, for each application search query that resulted in a non-null list of relevant results, that a user account associated with that application search query did not access any applications include in the non-null list of relevant results.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the metadata for each unfulfilled query includes, at least, an associated merchant identifier.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed are to cause the processor to identify at least one application feature by determining that more than a minimum percentage of the query strings contain a keyword, and wherein the at least one application feature includes the keyword.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed are to cause the processor to identify the at least one application feature by determining that the keyword corresponds to a type of application feature among a plurality of types of application features.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of types of application features include one or more of geographic location, product class, application sub-category, merchant class, or application function.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed are to cause the processor to store the query string and metadata by determining an application category associated with the query string and metadata and storing the query string and metadata in associated with the application category, and wherein determining that a count of stored unfulfilled queries exceeds a threshold number includes determining that a count of stored unfulfilled queries in association with the application category exceeds the threshold number.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the application feature includes one or more of application function, geographic location, product class, application sub-category, or merchant class.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed are to cause the processor to provide the application build recommendation by identifying a plurality of developer accounts and sending a notification to each of the plurality of developer accounts regarding the application build recommendation.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions for managing an online application database, the online application database storing applications and having at least one user account and at least one developer account, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, are to cause the one or more processors to: identify at least one application search query from one of the user accounts as an unfulfilled query if the at least one application search query resulted in fewer than a predetermined number of relevant results; store, in memory, a query string and metadata regarding the unfulfilled query; determine that a count of stored unfulfilled queries exceeds a threshold number and, in response, identify at least one application feature based on query strings from the stored unfulfilled queries; generate an application build recommendation specifying the at least one application feature; and provide the application build recommendation to the at least one developer account.